Duncan happy to encourage more women

Passion is what has driven Banyana Banyana team manager Lauren Duncan to be able to do for a living what she has loved ever since she first took to a soccer field at a young age.

Growing up in a family where football was a way of life, Duncan found it easy to play the beautiful game, before moving on to become a team manager. Duncan used to play for JVW FC before deciding to fully focus on being a manager, a role she enjoys but is quite demanding in having to make sure the team’s logistics are in order.

“My mom and dad were involved in football, my father used to play as well as my brother. So, I have always been part of football my whole life. I have also played indoor and outdoor football and played in the Sasol League for a number of years until I took a step back and got into management,” said Duncan.

“Basically it’s all about control of logistics from the start of camp, player call-ups, making sure that everybody has a visa when travelling. We make sure that we book tickets for the team, check the travelling routes, book the hotels and make sure that everything is sorted and in order, training kits and all of that.

“So, it’s pretty much about everything that has to do with the team, not just logistically, but the call-ups, making sure the players are available, healthy and ready to come for camp. There is just a lot of work that happens behind the scenes.”

Her advice to young women out there is to get into sport, particularly football because she believes women need each other to uplift women’s football in the country. And she says one doesn’t really need to play football to be involved and be passionate about it so that you can excel.

“Most people study Sports Management, it’s also good to have a background in sports, to be passionate about the sport you are managing. You really need to have a sports background to be able to know what that specific sport needs to be able to function properly,” she explained.

“But even if you go and study business management (you can be involved) because it goes together. You need to be organised, you need to know exactly what you are doing and be able to work under pressure. But I think the biggest thing is to be passionate about it.

“Find your passion and follow your dreams. We need more women to assist in women sports. We need women who are passionate about football who will take it to the next level. ‘When you are passionate about something you can achieve anything. Don’t just look at it as a job, but look at it as your way of life. I don’t know what I would do without football. I am on the football field from Monday to Sunday. So, if you can’t play, do something else, managing, being a coach, just get involved. Women need women to move women’s football forward.”